Munich, November 3, 2016. ProSiebenSat.1 Group also grew dynamically in the third quarter of 2016. The Group increased its revenues by 15 % to EUR 857 million (previous year: EUR 747 million). Recurring EBITDA grew by 13 % to EUR 202 million (previous year: EUR 178 million). Underlying net income also increased significantly by 11 % to EUR 87 million (previous year: EUR 79 million).

In the nine-month period, ProSiebenSat.1 increased its revenues by 17 % to EUR 2,545 million (previous year: EUR 2,174 million). At the same time, recurring EBITDA grew by 10 % to EUR 626 million (previous year: EUR 568 million) and underlying net income rose by 8 % to EUR 294 million (previous year: EUR 271 million). The e-commerce portfolio was still the most significant growth driver. The Red Arrow Entertainment production network also developed dynamically. In both business areas, successful acquisitions accelerated growth.

Thomas Ebeling, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE: “We are making very good progress with the transformation of our Company from a TV house to a digital player. In the first nine months, we already generated 46 % of our revenues outside the traditional TV advertising business. We consistently forge ahead with this development. With the strong TV business as the basis and the digital entertainment, commerce and production activities, we are well positioned to achieve our goals. By 2018, we aim to achieve revenues of EUR 1.7 billion with our digital business.”

From the third quarter of 2016, ProSiebenSat.1 Group splits its former Digital & Adjacent segment into two separate segments: Digital Entertainment and Digital Ventures & Commerce. As a result, the Group now reports on its operating business in four segments: Broadcasting German-speaking, Digital Entertainment, Digital Ventures & Commerce and Content Production & Global Sales.

Digital Entertainment: multi-channel network Studio71 is the strongest revenue growth driverIn the Digital Entertainment segment, revenues increased dynamically in both periods. Despite the deconsolidation of the online games business, external revenues grew by 23 % to EUR 99 million in the third quarter of 2016 (previous year: EUR 80 million). In the first nine months of the year, external revenues rose by 33 % to EUR 304 million (previous year: EUR 228 million). Growth was primarily driven by the ad-video-on-demand business with the multi-channel network Studio71 and the ad-tech area. The online video portal maxdome, for which the Group has announced a multi-annual contract extension with Unitymedia today, is still developing positively as well.

At EUR 4 million, recurring EBITDA was at the level of the previous year in the third quarter of 2016 (previous year: EUR 4 million). This was due to growth-related investments and a decline in revenues in adjacent activities. For the same reasons, recurring EBITDA fell by 15 % to EUR 19 million in the nine-month period (previous year: EUR 23 million).

Digital Ventures & Commerce: commerce business continues to grow strongly and profitablyIn the third quarter of 2016, external revenues in the Digital Ventures & Commerce segment rose to EUR 181 million (previous year: EUR 125 million). This is an increase of 44 %. At the same time, earnings grew significantly: recurring EBITDA went up by 14 % to EUR 40 million (previous year: EUR 35 million). In the first nine months of the year, external revenues rose by 65 % to EUR 483 million (previous year: EUR 293 million). Recurring EBITDA recorded an increase of 30 % and thus went up to EUR 105 million (previous year: EUR 81 million). The online travel portal etraveli and the price comparison portal Verivox made the largest contributions to revenue growth.

Content Production & Global Sales: US business drives growth in revenues and earningsThe Content Production & Global Sales segment continues to grow strongly. In the third quarter of 2016, external revenues rose by 34 % to EUR 100 million (previous year: EUR 74 million) and recurring EBITDA increased to EUR 11 million (previous year: EUR 5 million). In the first nine months of the year, external revenues increased by 38 % to EUR 240 million (previous year: EUR 174 million). At the same time, recurring EBITDA more than doubled to EUR 27 million (previous year: EUR 10 million). Growth was mainly driven by the successful US business.

Leverage ratio remains within target rangeAs of September 30, 2016, net financial debt increased to EUR 2,419 million year-on-year (previous year: EUR 1,953 million). As a result, the leverage ratio – which is the ratio of net financial debt to recurring EBITDA of the last twelve months – was 2.5 (previous year: 2.2). The increase compared to the reporting date of the previous year in September reflects the seasonality of operational cash flow within the year as well as the Group’s investment activities.

ProSiebenSat.1 confirms higher revenue forecast for 2016As announced at the Capital Markets Day in mid-October, ProSiebenSat.1 Group anticipates revenue growth of at least 15 % for the full year (previously: at least 10 %). For the year as a whole, the Group anticipates growth of just over 2 % for the net TV advertising market in Germany (at the beginning of 2016: between 2 % and 3 %). Growth in the TV advertising revenues of ProSiebenSat.1 is expected to be slightly below market growth. The Group will continue to grow dynamically in the digital and production business. Recurring EBITDA and underlying net income are set to exceed the previous year’s level.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group once again increased its financial targets for 2018 in October 2016. The revenue growth target increased by EUR 300 million from EUR 1.85 billion to EUR 2.15 billion compared to 2012. By 2018, Group revenues are thus expected to amount to EUR 4.5 billion (previously: EUR 4.2 billion). The digital business is then expected to contribute EUR 1.7 billion to revenues. ProSiebenSat.1 increased its recurring EBITDA growth target by EUR 50 million to EUR 400 million compared to 2012. The Company thus aims to achieve recurring EBITDA of EUR 1.15 billion in 2018.